Birdwatching in Malaysia soars to greater heights, thanks to the pandemic

The pandemic has made roadside birdwatching a popular pastime in Malaysia.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the world had to adapt to a new normal. As the virus ravaged countries, economies suffered, businesses shut down and many people lost their jobs.

But amidst the chaos, there was a silver lining – nature started to restore itself.

This phenomenon was particularly evident in Malaysia’s bird photography community.

For years, bird photographers had found it challenging to capture local species due to habitat destruction and pollution, and had to venture further away from the cities to find the subjects they were looking for.

The pandemic changed everything. As humans retreated indoors, birds began to reclaim their natural habitats.

Reduced human activity and pollution levels allowed shy and elusive birds to venture into the open, providing photographers with new opportunities to capture them on camera.

Looking out...A white-bellied woodpecker chick is peering from the hole of its tree trunk nest.

In Malaysia, parks and green spaces became havens for these birds and photographers took advantage of the opportunity, even with lockdown restrictions in place. Among the examples are Taman Ri mba Kiara (TRK) and Bukit Kiara, where many species such as woodpeckers and barbets nest.

Bird enthusiast Roselyn Chuah, who has been keeping records of bird sightings in the area for over a decade, said that during the pandemic, more birds came out to nest by the roadside trees than before.

“Bukit Kiara and TRK were closed at the height of Covid-19. The quiet surroundings allowed the birds come out to play from the nearby forest and nest openly nearer the roadside.”

In the post-lockdown environment, there were fewer sightings of these birds, she said.

Making a run...A female Common Flameback Woodpecker flew off from her nest to find food.

TRK and Bukit Kiara saw birds such as the lineated barbet, the rufous woodpecker, the common flameback woodpecker, the ruby-cheeked sunbird and even the fantail come out to nest on lower trees and closer to roads.

Chuah said it was uncommon to see the birds nesting and breeding openly and significantly closer to the open area.

She believes that the restricted movement of people to the park brought nature out into the open.

According to bird photographer Jamil Mat Isa, social media also played a critical role: “Photographers shared their beautiful images with a broader audience than ever before. This inspired others to take up the hobby and document the beautiful birds found in Malaysia.”

As more people discover the joys of bird photography, it has become an increasingly popular pastime.

Indirectly, it created hype and awareness of the importance of conserving the environment as people learned more about the species they spotted or found and read about their habitats.

Belly Good...A Eurasian Hoopoe having a bug meal in the middle of the field.

Jamil, a bird photographer for the last 20 years, said there were more bird photographers now than before the pandemic.

Previously, many photographers preferred to travel abroad to shoot other exciting species, he said.

But today, they are exploring their own backyards to shoot local species.

As Jamil pointed out, one example is the Eurasian hoopoe, a pair of migratory birds that stayed back during the pandemic at Taiping Lake Garden.

Bird enthusiasts travelled from all around the country to Taiping after the lockdown restrictions were lifted to photograph this species.

Today, four generations of the Eurasian hoopoe inhabit the lake garden.

Flying high...A brahminy kite uses using thermals, which are columns of warm rising air, to fly with using energy.

Jamil, who is also the co-founder of the Nature Ecosystem Sustainability Association, a group that deals in bird photography, agreed that the pandemic had brought out the best in bird photographers among Malaysians and created a bigger pool of photo enthusiasts.

He hoped the government would take note of such developments and promote avitourism, which is popular in Borneo and neighbouring countries such as Thailand and Indonesia, as a possible money-spinner for local tourism.

BirdLife International Asia Council’s (BIA) immediate past vice-chairman for South-East Asia, Henry Goh, welcomes the newfound popularity of bird photography, which has helped to raise awareness about the importance of protecting vulnerable bird species and their habitats.

BIA is a worldwide alliance of non-governmental organisations that promotes the conservation of birds and their habitats.

Goh said this development has also encouraged more people to take an interest in the natural world and appreciate the beauty and diversity of birds in Malaysia.The rise of bird photography is a positive outcome of the pandemic lockdowns. It is a testament to nature’s resilience and the human spirit that seeks to capture its beauty.